September 26 28, 2013 Westin Tampa Harbour Island Co-sponsored by
From Brains at Risk to Cognitive Dysfunction: The Role of Vascular Pathology Ralph Sacco, MD, MS, FAHA, FAAN Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Miami, FL
Learning Objective 1 Routinely include an evaluation for vascular cognitive impairment in the workup of patients with suspected cognitive impairment
Learning Objective 2 Counsel patients about risk-factor modification and treatment of vascular dementia
Ralph Sacco, MD, MS, FAHA, FAAN Dr. Sacco has no disclosures to report.
Dementia: Prevalence and Incidence Dementia: affects 30 million persons worldwide and an estimated 30% of persons over age 80 Alzheimer s disease (AD) prevalence doubles every 4.3 years Vascular dementia (VaD) prevalence doubles every 5.3 years In developed countries, we anticipate having 2 billion persons aged 60 by 2050 Prince M, et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2013;9(1):63-75 e62. PMID: 23305823.
AHA/ASA Scientific Statement: Vascular Cognitive Impairment Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Philip B. Gorelick, Angelo Scuteri, Sandra E. Black, Charles DeCarli, Steven M. Greenberg, Costantino Iadecola, Lenore J. Launer, Stephane Laurent, Oscar L. Lopez. David Nyenhuis, Ronald C. Petersen, Julie A. Schneider, Christophe Tzourio, Donna K. Arnett, David A. Bennett, Helena C. Chui, Randall T. Higashida, Ruth Lindquist, Peter M. Nilsson, Gustavo C. Roman, Frank W. Sellke, and Sudha Seshadri
Defining AD and Vascular Cognitive Impairment A significant evolution in terminology of cognitive deficits associated with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) Multi-infarct dementia: Used to identify patients who developed dementia after multiple strokes Vascular dementia: Severe cognitive and functional impairment regardless of CVD etiology Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI): Encompasses all cognitive disorders associated with CVD, from mild deficits to frank dementia
Vascular Dementia: According to DSM-IV, ICD-10 (research), and NINDS-AIREN Memory dysfunction + Other cognitive areas + CVD Functional Impairment AD + CVD NINDS = National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; AIREN = Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l'enseignement en Neurosciences. Pohjasvaara T, et al. Stroke. 2000;31(12):2952-2957. PMID: 11108755.
Evolution of the Concept of VCI Vascular Cognitive Impairment Brain at risk Increasing cognitive dysfunction Dementia VCI Criteria Current Criteria Bowler J, Hachinski V. Vascular Cognitive Impairment. 2003.
Definition of VCI VCI is a syndrome with evidence of clinical stroke or subclinical vascular brain injury and cognitive impairment affecting at least 1 cognitive domain
Spectrum of VCI Prodrome conditions! Vascular cognitive impairment, no dementia (VCIND)! Vascular mild cognitive impairment (Vascular MCI) Pure vascular dementia (VaD) Mixed disease! Concomitant vascular and other pathology, such as pathology associated with AD
Clinical Criteria for VCI VCI criteria are based on two factors! A demonstration of the presence of a cognitive disorder by neuropsychological testing! A history of clinical stroke or presence of CVD by neuroimaging that suggests a link between the cognitive disorder and the vascular disease Keys to defining VCI are neuropsychological testing, clinical examination, and neuroimaging VCI to be used with all etiologies of CVD, including cardioembolic, atherosclerotic, ischemic, hemorrhagic, or genetically related CVD
Pathophysiological Model of VCI Marshall RS, Lazar RM. Stroke. 2011;42(1):221-226. PMID: 21148438.
Subclinical Vascular Brain Injury White Matter Hyperintensities, Subclinical Infarction, and Brain Atrophy White matter hyperintensities! Blood-brain barrier breakdown! Associated with ischemic damage Subclinical infarction Brain atrophy Images courtesy of Ralph Sacco, with permission. "
VCI Diagnostic Criteria: Dementia 1. The diagnosis of dementia should be based on a decline in cognitive function from a prior baseline and a deficit in performance in 2 cognitive domains that are of sufficient severity to affect the subject s activities of daily living 2. The diagnosis of dementia must be based on cognitive testing, and a minimum of four cognitive domains should be assessed: executive/attention, memory, language, and visuospatial functions 3. The deficits in activities of daily living are independent of the motor/sensory sequelae of the vascular event
VCI Diagnostic Criteria: Probable VaD 1. There is cognitive impairment and imaging evidence of CVD, and a) There is a clear temporal relationship between a vascular event (e.g., clinical stroke) and the onset of cognitive deficits or b) There is a clear relationship in the severity and pattern of cognitive impairment, and the presence of diffuse, subcortical CVD pathology (e.g., as in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy [CADASIL]) 2. There is no history of gradually progressive cognitive deficits before or after the stroke that suggests the presence of a nonvascular neurodegenerative disorder.
VCI Diagnostic Criteria: Possible VaD There is cognitive impairment and imaging evidence of CVD, but: 1. There is no clear relationship (temporal, severity, or cognitive pattern) between the vascular disease (e.g., silent infarcts, subcortical small vessel disease) and cognitive impairment; or 2. There is insufficient information for the diagnosis of VaD (e.g., clinical symptoms suggest the presence of vascular disease, but there are no CT/MRI studies available); or 3. Severity of aphasia precludes proper cognitive assessment. However, patients with documented evidence of normal cognitive function (e.g., annual cognitive evaluations) before the clinical event that caused aphasia could be classified as Probable VaD; or
VCI Diagnostic Criteria: Possible VaD There is cognitive impairment and imaging evidence of CVD, but: 4. There is evidence of other neurodegenerative diseases or conditions, in addition to CVD, that may affect cognition, such as: a. A history of other neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, dementia with Lewy bodies) b. The presence of AD biology is confirmed by biomarkers (e.g., PET, CSF, amyloid ligands) or genetic studies (e.g., PS1 mutation) c. There is a history of active cancer, or of psychiatric or metabolic disorders that may affect cognitive function
Lifestyle Factors for VCI: Recommendations The following lifestyle intervention in persons at risk for VCI is reasonable: 1. Smoking cessation (Class IIa, Level of Evidence A)
Lifestyle Factors for VCI: Recommendations The following lifestyle interventions in persons at risk for VCI may be reasonable: 1. Moderation of alcohol intake (Class IIb, Level of Evidence B) 2. Weight control (Class Ilb, Level of Evidence B) 3. Physical activity (Class IIb, Level of Evidence B) The following is not recommended: The use of antioxidants and B vitamins in persons at risk for VCI is not useful, based on current evidence (Class III, Level of Evidence A)
Summary of VCI Pharmacotherapy Recommendations Donepezil can be useful for cognitive enhancement in patients with VaD (Class IIa; Level of Evidence A)* The administration of galantamine can be beneficial for patients with mixed AD/VaD (Class IIa; Level of Evidence A)* The benefits of rivastigmine* # and memantine* are not well established in VaD (Class IIb; Level of Evidence A) *FDA approved for the treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer s type # FDA approved for the treatment of dementia due to Parkinson s disease
Recommendations Regarding Blood Pressure Lowering and Cognition In patients with stroke, lowering blood pressure is effective for reducing the risk of post-stroke dementia (Class I, Level of Evidence B) There is reasonable evidence that, in middle-aged and young-elderly, lowering blood pressure can be useful for the prevention of late-life dementia (Class IIa, Level of Evidence B) The usefulness of lowering blood pressure in individuals age 80+ is not well established (Class IIb, Level of Evidence B)
Hypertension Trials and Cognition
SPRINT-MIND Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension NIH-funded, 9-year, multicenter study designed to test whether lowering blood pressure (BP) beyond recommended levels can improve outcomes More than 9,000 subjects were followed for four years:! Age 55 years! Have systolic BP (SBP) > 130! Have at least one of the following:! Have cardiovascular disease! Be at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease (ie, have at least one additional risk factor, eg, history of smoking, high cholesterol)! Have kidney disease Target SBP control! Aggressive < 120 mm Hg! Routine < 140 mm Hg MIND: the cognition substudy of SPRINT, funded by the National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.! Includes neuropsychological battery, measures of cognitive decline, and MRI substudy SPRINT: Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Website. 2013. https://www.sprinttrial.org/public/dsphome.cfm.
Diabetes Recommendation The effectiveness of treating diabetes/ hyperglycemia for the prevention of dementia is not well established (Class IIb, Level of Evidence C).
Lipids Recommendation The usefulness of the treatment of hyperlipidemia for prevention of dementia is uncertain (Class IIb, Level of Evidence C)
Other Interventions on Vascular Factors: Recommendations 1. A Mediterranean-type dietary pattern has been associated with less cognitive decline in several studies and may be reasonable (Class IIb, Level of Evidence B) 2. Vitamin supplementation is not proven to improve cognitive function, even if homocysteine levels have been positively influenced, and its usefulness is not well established. (Class IIb, Level of Evidence B) 3. Physical activity might be considered for the prevention of cognitive impairment (Class IIb, Level of Evidence B), but the usefulness of other lifestyle or vitamin interventions uncertain (Class IIb, Level of Evidence B) 4. Effectiveness of antiaggregant therapy for VCI is not well established (Class IIb, Level of Evidence B)
Vascular Cognitive Impairment: Mechanisms and Diagnosis VCI includes a wide spectrum and is of growing concern Vascular risk factors have an important effect on cognition and lead to subclinical brain injury because of microvascular and macrovascular mechanisms It is now accepted that many traditional risk factors are also risk markers for AD and VCI There may be a convergence of pathogenic mechanisms in vascular and neurodegenerative processes that cause cognitive impairment (e.g., an angiogenesis hypothesis for AD) Iadecola C, Gorelick PB. Stroke. 2003;34(2):335-337. PMID: 12574528.
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